“It will be.” I look to the house, zooming in on the window that has Star Wars curtains hanging at them. “I met him,” I say and Esther’s eyes nearly pop out, making me smile. “He doesn’t know who I am yet, but I saw him. He’s the most beautiful kid I’ve ever seen.” My voice quivers, a perfectly clear image of Daniel at the forefront of my mind.
Esther’s hand reaches for mine and holds it gently. “I’m so happy you’ve found him.”
My heart squeezes for Esther. She found her son, and then she lost him all over again. I lean across the car and take her in a hug, relaxing into her warmth. I don’t say anything. I don’t need to. We’re both utterly devastated by the loss of her son. Had it not been for the gift Danny left me, I’m not sure where I’d be heading right now. Actually, I do. I’d be freefalling into nothing. I detour from my thoughts before I soak her shoulder with my tears.
She pulls away from me. “Where to?”
“The airport,” I say, resting back and gazing out of the window. I need to do as I’m told. Remind myself of who I am. Strong. Fierce. And soon, I pray, a mom.
Chapter 29
ROSE
* * *
Crystal clear waters. Golden sand. Space for miles and miles. Peace and quiet. It’s paradise here. The beach house Danny left me isn’t quite a beach house. More a giant villa. Eight bedrooms, four reception rooms, five bathrooms. What the hell will I do with eight bedrooms? My mind was blown when the cab driver pulled up outside the gated complex earlier today. I wandered around in a daze of shock and confusion, finding room after room. The garden is the beach, and that’s where I’m standing now, looking out to the horizon as the sun sets. The breeze has loose strands of my hair whipping my face, and my toes are sunken into the wet sand, water swishing around my feet. There’s not one cloud in the sky, and as I look up, closing my eyes, I breathe in the sea air, relishing the lowering sun on my face.
I remain there for an age, soaking up the rays and peace, looking out to sea. The colors here are vivid. My world isn’t black anymore. And that was his intention.
I hear someone approaching behind me, and I turn on a peaceful inhale, pulling my hair into a ponytail as I do. I see a short man, dressed in a white uniform. “Miss Cassidy?”
“Yes?”
He says no more and hands me an envelope before leaving. Looking down at the paper in my hand, my mind swirls. What is this? I look around the beach, for what reason I don’t know. I’m just . . . thrown. Slipping my thumb past the seal, I peel it open, pulling out a sheet of paper. My heart gallops, wondering if this is another note from Danny. I don’t want to read it if it is. He’ll haunt me for the rest of my damn life.
Holding on to my breath, I unfold the paper, squeezing my eyes closed when I see my name in his handwriting at the top. “You bastard,” I say out loud, wishing he was here to go psychotic at the mention of that word. Backing up from the shore, I find some dry sand and lower to my ass, knowing I’m going to need to be sitting.
* * *
Rose,
Isn’t it beautiful? My dad used to bring me here in the winter. Where you’re sitting is where I put my first wetsuit on and in front of you is where I rode my first jet ski. I cherish this place. I hope you will too. Up the road a few miles, there’s a private hangar. Inside is a private jet. The contact details for your private pilot are on the table in the lobby. You’ll want to visit Daniel as much as possible, and hopefully sometime soon his parents will agree to you bringing him here to visit you as well. The jet and hangar are in your name. The papers for the villa are now in your name. I know I said you can sell it if you want to, but I really hope you don’t. Because then I’ll have nowhere to live . . .
My fingers tense around the paper, crumpling it in my grasp. My eyes are dry as I read the letter again. “Where you’re sitting now . . .” I look down at the sand, my mind spinning. How does he know where I’m sitting now? The exact spot? My pulse rockets, and I dive to my feet, my eyes glued to his words. The note slips from my fingers, floating to the sand at my feet. And I stare at it. Trembling where I am, I just stare at it, my vision blurry from the onslaught of tears. Am I losing my mind? Have I got this all wrong?